Phoenix Symphony's final bow before the hiatus

If you have been meaning to catch a night at the symphony, the window is closing fast. The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona's only full-time professional symphony orchestra and the state's largest performing arts group, announced on October 20 that it is suspending its 2026-27 season after its final performance on November 1. The decision comes from President and CEO Peter Kjome, who has led the orchestra since February 1, 2023, and points to years of operating deficits and an immediate cash shortage that has left the organization short roughly $10 million in short-term funding. The season is suspended rather than cancelled, meaning the remaining performances and programs are on hold with no set date for when they might resume.

The human cost of the suspension is stark. Layoffs of 66 musicians are expected on November 2, the day after that last concert. Principal oboist Jonathan Gentry described the situation as personally and artistically devastating, noting that he and his fiancée are among five couples in the orchestra who will lose their entire household income at once. Principal flutist Viviana Cumplido Wilson, who has held the chair since 2006, spoke to the orchestra's work beyond the stage, including performances for students in classrooms, hospice care patients, and unhoused individuals.

For nearly 80 years, the orchestra has been a fixture of the city's cultural life, founded in 1947 and performing primarily at Phoenix Symphony Hall in Copper Square. Its reach extends far past the concert hall: the Learning Institute brings music to more than 125,000 students, adults, and families each year through school-based concerts and a cross-cultural music residency with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, while the Health & Wellness Initiative carries live, interactive performances into healthcare settings and homeless outreach centers. The roster includes Concertmaster Rolf Haas, Associate Concertmaster Magdalena Martinic-Jercic, and Principal Viola Daniel Wang, and the podium has seen a long line of directors, from Eduardo Mata in the 1970s to Tito Muñoz, who led from 2014 to 2024. Paolo Bortolameolli was appointed music director in March 2026, though his tenure was set to begin with the 2027-2028 season.

What happens next is still being written. The board and management are working on a short-term funding plan and a long-term operational one, and donors are being asked to help reach a $250,000 goal by December 31. Season subscriptions for 2026-27 are suspended, and ticket buyers and subscribers will be contacted directly about credits, donations, or refunds. For now, the only thing certain is that November 1 marks the end of the line for this season, and the day after that, 66 musicians lose their jobs. If you want to hear the orchestra one more time before it goes quiet, that final performance is the only chance left on the calendar.